Book Review

Tangerine

This novel written by Edward Bloor explains the life of a boy named Paul Fisher. He can see things in other ways that his parents or other kids cannot see.
His family has moved to the mysterious town of Tangerine in Florida where the most unusual things happen. The main characteristic of Paul is that he is legally blind. He can see with his glasses on but he cannot see if they are off. He has heard several stories from his family to how he became blind but the story he believes is the one his brother told him. His brother told him that he became blind because he stared into a solar eclipse when he was younger. He still doesn't think that the story is completely true. Trying to fit into the town of Tangerine, he tries out for the soccer team but doesn't get to play because he is legally blind. Paul is always looking for guidance from his parents but his doesn't care and his mother is always busy. His father doesn't even care about Paul because his older brother Eric is a football star. Eric is the best field goal kicker in the state. To make matters worse, his school was ruined by a natural disaster so he had to attend the Tangerine County School which is filled with tough arrogant kids. To try to fit in like at his old school, he tries out for the soccer team. He later finds out that the toughest kids in the school are on the soccer team and they accept him for who he is. Things are good for while until an incident occurs at his house involving his older brother. Eric insults both of the kids and Eric and his friend beat the two up. Paul friend's brother makes his way over to the house to defend his brother. Eric's friend, Arthur then hits him across the head with a jackhammer. They hide the body so no one will find out. As Eric goes on, helping his friends out at the picking fields, he know he should tell someone. More days go one and one of the football players is killed by a lighting strike. Along with this, robberies are starting to happen, more lighting storms, and kids at school are revolting.
It is time for awards night at the school. As Eric makes his way onto stage he is attacked by Tino and Victor, friends of the other boy who was hit across the head by Eric. The fight escalates to where coaches are trying to break up the fight. Seeing this, Paul runs back home and as he reaches the front door, he has a flash back. It was his brother who made him legally blind. His brother sprayed paint in his eyes, it wasn't a solar eclipse. He realized that his parents didn't want him to hate his brother. As weeks grow into months, their mother finds a gym bag that is full of stolen items. Eric later confesses and Arthur is charges with the death of Luis, the one hit across the forehead with the crowbar. Paul eventually is expelled from school and his mother and him move to a catholic school. A great fictional story that is full of suspense and shock.

Op-Ed

Op-Ed

Unfortunately I have to disagree with Cole Jolovich about the Tongue River High School Prom. The Grand March was filled up and amusing but the dance was not that exciting. For the beginning of the dance, popular songs were being played and everyone was dancing. When people started to request songs the DJ started to refuse everyone who talked to him. We still carried on with our dancing and tried to have a good time. He started to play slow songs for a while. At one point, he played eight slow songs and by the fourth one, a few pairs were out on the dance floor. I heard students complaining about how much this DJ was horrible at the job that he was "trying" to do. I complained excessively and so did most of my friends. Most of us made our way to the food stand or stood outside to talk. We made several attempts to dance again and have fun but it all failed because of the choice of songs by the DJ. We still tried to request songs but he was to stubborn and strict on what music was going to be played. He brought up the fact that most of the songs that he had were not appropriate for the school dance. In time, almost everyone was fed up with him that the dance floor was almost empty with an hour still left. Some students even left the dance and would come back in time for the after party. Soon the dance floor was empty and everyone was unsatisfied and looked to the after party for some fun and excitement. Cole Jolovich said that the dance was a blast but I definitely have to disagree. It was not a blast in sense of fun but a blast in sense of failure. He also stated that it needed a little bit of work but it actually needed allot of work.